Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in general conference April 2021:
My dear brothers and sisters, on this radiant Easter morning my heart rejoices upon remembering the most marvelous, the most majestic, the most immeasurable act that has occurred in all of human history—the atoning sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The eminent words of the prophet Isaiah magnify the greatness and selflessness of the Savior’s condescension and sacrifice in behalf of all the children of God:
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”1
By voluntarily taking upon Himself the sins of all mankind, being cruelly nailed to the cross, and victoriously conquering death on the third day,2 Jesus gave a more sacred significance to the Passover ordinance that had been bestowed upon Israel in ancient times.3 In fulfillment of prophecy, He offered His own body and precious blood as the great and last sacrifice,4 validating the traditional symbols used in the celebration of the Lord’s Passover.5 In so doing, Christ experienced physical and spiritual suffering that is incomprehensible to the human mind. The Savior Himself said:
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, …
“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”6
Christ graciously fulfilled the will of the Father7 through His infinite and merciful sacrifice. He overcame the sting of physical and spiritual death,8 introduced to the world through the Fall,9 offering us the glorious possibility of eternal salvation.10
. . . . While through His sacrifice the Savior unconditionally removed the effects of physical death,16 He did not eliminate our personal responsibility to repent for the sins we commit.17 Rather, He extended to us a loving invitation to be reconciled to our Eternal Father. Through Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, we can experience a mighty change of mind and heart, bringing a fresh attitude, both toward God and toward life in general.18 When we sincerely repent of our sins and turn our hearts and will to God and His commandments, we can receive His forgiveness and feel the influence of His Holy Spirit in greater abundance. Mercifully, we avoid having to experience the depth of suffering the Savior endured.19
The gift of repentance is an expression of God’s kindness toward His children, and it is a demonstration of His incomparable power to help us overcome the sins we commit. It is also an evidence of the patience and long-suffering our loving Father has for our mortal weakness and frailties. President Russell M. Nelson, our beloved prophet, referred to this gift as “the key to happiness and peace of mind.”20
. . . . In addition to providing the majestic gift of salvation, the Savior offers us relief and comfort as we face our afflictions, temptations, and weaknesses of mortal life, including the circumstances we have experienced recently in the current pandemic. I can assure you that Christ is ever aware of the adversities we experience in mortality. He understands all of the bitterness, agony, and physical pain as well as the emotional and spiritual challenges we face. The Savior’s bowels are filled with mercy, and He is always ready to succor us. This is possible because He personally experienced and took upon Himself in the flesh the pain of our weakness and infirmities.24
. . . . As we draw nearer to Him, surrendering ourselves spiritually to His care, we will be able to take upon ourselves His yoke, which is easy, and His burden, which is light, thus finding that promised comfort and rest. Furthermore, we will receive the strength we all need to overcome the hardships, weaknesses, and sorrows of life, which are exceedingly difficult to endure without His help and healing power.26 The scriptures teach us to “cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.”27 “And then may God grant unto [us] that [our] burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.”28
For Elder Soares complete talk with working links, click Jesus Christ: The Caregiver of Our Soul. . . .
